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Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> wrote:
> anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> writes:
> 
>> Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> wrote:
>>> doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) writes:
>>> 
>>>> AI/LLM Reviews of  Star Trek The Next Generation - Night Terrors 
>>>> 
>>>> Google Gemini
>>>> 
>>>> Plot Synopsis
>>>> The Enterprise discovers a derelict Federation starship, the USS
>>>> Brittain, and finds its crew all dead, seemingly having killed each
>>>> other in a mass suicide. The Enterprise is trapped in the same cosmic
>>>> anomaly, a "null space" where all energy and sensory input is cut off,
>>>> causing them to suffer from extreme psychological distress.
>>>> 
>>>> The crew begins to experience vivid nightmares, hallucinations, and
>>>> paranoia. The lack of REM sleep and the constant feeling of being
>>>> watched take a heavy toll. Deanna Troi, in particular, is hit hardest
>>>> by the effects, as her empathic abilities are amplified and she begins
>>>> to see disturbing visions and hear a disembodied voice repeating a
>>>> single, alien phrase: "Eyes in the dark. One in the dark. Two in the
>>>> dark."
>>>> 
>>>> The crew realizes they are not alone. Another starship, also trapped
>>>> in the null space, is sending out telepathic signals. These signals
>>>> are the source of the crew's distress and the strange phrase Troi is
>>>> hearing. With the help of the other ship's signals and the guidance of
>>>> the mysterious voice, the Enterprise crew devises a plan to use a
>>>> reverse polarity tachyon beam to push both ships out of the null
>>>> space. The episode concludes with both ships escaping, and the crew's
>>>> sanity returning to normal.
>>>> 
>>>> Strengths
>>>> Effective Horror Atmosphere: The episode successfully creates a tense
>>>> and claustrophobic atmosphere. The slow descent into madness for the
>>>> crew is genuinely unsettling. The use of nightmares and hallucinations
>>>> is well-executed and adds to the feeling of dread.
>>>> 
>>>> Troi's Arc: This is a strong episode for Deanna Troi. We see her
>>>> pushed to her limits, and her empathic abilities are both a curse and
>>>> a key to solving the crisis. Her hallucinations and the alien phrase
>>>> she hears are the central mystery of the plot.
>>>> 
>>>> The Puzzles: The plot feels like a classic mystery, with the crew
>>>> having to piece together clues from the dead crew of the Brittain and
>>>> Troi's nightmares to understand their predicament.
>>>> 
>>>> Weaknesses
>>>> Disappointing Conclusion: The resolution is somewhat
>>>> underwhelming. The "solution" of firing a reverse polarity tachyon
>>>> beam feels a bit like a technical gimmick, and the origin of the alien
>>>> signal is never fully explored. The mystery is resolved with a
>>>> technical fix rather than a satisfying narrative reveal.
>>>> 
>>>> Underdeveloped Plot: While the concept is strong, the execution feels
>>>> a bit thin. The episode could have spent more time developing the lore
>>>> behind the null space and the other alien ship.
>>>> 
>>>> Overall Impression
>>>> "Night Terrors" is a decent episode that serves as a tense
>>>> psychological thriller. It has a great premise and effectively uses
>>>> horror elements, but the lack of a satisfying narrative resolution
>>>> prevents it from being a top-tier episode. It’s an interesting watch
>>>> for its unique tone and focus on Troi, but the ending feels a little
>>>> anticlimactic.
>>>> 
>>>> Rating: 7/10
>>>> 
>>>> ChatGPT
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Here’s a comprehensive review of **“Star Trek: The Next Generation
>>>> — *Night Terrors***†(Season 4, Episode 17), drawing on the
>>>> transcript and a variety of critical and fan insights:
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> 
>>>> ## Episode Summary
>>>> 
>>>> The USS Enterprise discovers the USS Brittain, adrift and with its
>>>> entire crew dead from apparent suicide. Among the corpses, only a
>>>> catatonic Betazoid named Hagan survives. Soon, the Enterprise crew
>>>> starts suffering from severe REM sleep deprivation: hallucinations,
>>>> paranoia, and emotional breakdowns set in. Data, who doesn’t require
>>>> sleep, partners with Counselor Troi—who alone is still dreaming—to
>>>> unravel the mystery. Eventually, they realize another ship trapped in
>>>> the same Tykén’s Rift is trying to communicate via Troi’s dreams,
>>>> and the solution involves venting hydrogen to create an energy burst
>>>> that frees them both.
>>>> ([Den of Geek][1], [Thoughts From the Mountain Top][2], [Wikipedia][3])
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> 
>>>> ## What Works
>>>> 
>>>> * **Atmosphere of Tension and Horror**
>>>> The episode creates a uniquely eerie mood for TNG, with
>>>> sleep-deprived crewmembers awakening to escalating
>>>> paranoia—especially the chilling morgue hallucination of corpses
>>>> rising.
>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [Wikipedia][3], [Late to the Game Blog][5])
>>>> 
>>>> * **Strong Central Concept**
>>>> Exploring cognitive collapse through the lens of sleep deprivation
>>>> and alien communication is both inventive and unsettling. It showcases
>>>> TNG’s ability to play with horror tropes within its sci-fi
>>>> framework.
>>>> ([Late to the Game Blog][5], [Wikipedia][3])
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> 
>>>> ## Weaknesses
>>>> 
>>>> * **Unconvincing Dream Sequences**
>>>> Many critics found Troi’s dream visuals—flashing through green
>>>> voids while calling out “where are you?â€â€”visually and
>>>> emotionally underwhelming, bordering on silly.
>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [Den of Geek][1], [Thoughts From the Mountain Top][2])
>>>> 
>>>> * **Narrative Gaps and Pacing Issues**
>>>> The resolution—needing hydrogen to force an escape—felt
>>>> contrived to some. Plus, the episode's pacing dragged, often feeling
>>>> stretched by filler rather than focused tension.
>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [Thoughts From the Mountain Top][2], [Den of Geek][1])
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> 
>>>> ## Reception & Rankings
>>>> 
>>>> * **Positive Notes on Horror Impact**
>>>> Den of Geek notes its disturbing imagery—particularly from the
>>>> morgue scene—and ranks it among Trek’s more frightening episodes.
>>>> ([Wikipedia][3], [Den of Geek][1])
>>>> 
>>>> * **Mixed Critical Consensus**
>>>> On one hand, *The A.V. Club* praises the episode’s ambition in
>>>> fulfilling sci-fi expectations, even while noting it doesn’t offer a
>>>> grand finale twist.
>>>> ([Wikipedia][3])
>>>> On the other, some rankings place it among the weaker TNG episodes,
>>>> pointing to its uneven execution.
>>>> ([Wikipedia][3])
>>>> 
>>>> * **Fan Commentary Reflects Division**
>>>> Fans are torn: some find it a creepy and memorable horror outing,
>>>> while others criticize the dream sequences and lack of narrative
>>>> finesse.
>>>> ([Jammer's Reviews][4], [IMDb][6], [Late to the Game Blog][5])
>>>> 
>>>> ---
>>>> 
>>>> ## Final Rating: **7 / 10**
>>>> 
>>>> **Verdict:** *Night Terrors* is a bold, atmospheric experiment for
>>>> *TNG*, doubling down on sleeper horror within a Star Trek context. Its
>>>> strengths lie in unsettling visuals and psychological dread—uncommon
>>>> for the series. However, the undercooked dream imagery and narrative
>>>> thinness dilute its effectiveness. At its best, it's a creepy
>>>> standout; at its weakest, it’s a drawn-out oddity.
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> Interesting, using a llm to review a 30+ year old episode, an era where
>>> shows weren't serialized like they are today.
>>> 
>>> how do you develop lore for a 40 minute episode?
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> See “Datalore”
> 
> What about it?
> 

They developed lore in a 46 minute episode

-- 
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.